Shrub rose plant named ‘BAIface’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of landscape shrub rose plant is provided which forms on a continuous basis in clusters attractive semi-double rich medium pink blossoms blended with rosy pink and white. The plant exhibits a compact, upright and bushy growth habit, satiny medium green foliage, and excellent tolerance to Black Spot and Powdery Mildew. The attractive medium green foliage contrasts nicely with the pink blossom coloration. A tough rose plant of good hardiness is provided. The plant can be grown to advantage as a specimen, border planting, or as a mass planting.

Botanical commercial classification: Rosa hybrida/Shrub Rose Plant.

Varietal denomination: cv. ‘BAIface’.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Rosa hybrida landscape shrub rose plant was createdat Yamhill, Oreg. during 1993 by artificial pollination wherein twoparents were crossed which previously had been studied in the hope thatthey would contribute the desired characteristics. The female parent(i.e., the seed parent) was the ‘Earth Song’ variety (non-patented inthe United States). The male parent (i.e., the pollen parent) was the‘Meipoque’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,956). The ‘Meipoque’ varietyis marketed under the PINK MEIDILAND trademark. The parentage of the newvariety can be summarized as follows:‘Earth Song’×‘Meipoque’.

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and plants wereobtained which were physically and biologically different from eachother. Selective study resulted in the identification during 1996 of asingle plant of the new variety having the distinctive ornamentalcharacteristics hereafter described.

It was found that the new variety of the present invention:

-   -   (a) exhibits a compact, upright and bushy growth habit,    -   (b) forms continuously in clusters attractive semi-double rich        medium pink blossoms blended with rosy pink and white,    -   (c) forms satiny medium green adult foliage,    -   (d) displays excellent tolerance to Black Spot and Powdery        Mildew; and    -   (e) is particularly well suited for growing as attractive        ornamentation in parks and gardens.

The red-purple buds open to rich medium pink blooms having a blend ofrosy pink and white that lightens in coloration with maturity. Theblossom coloration contrasts nicely with the medium green adult foliage.A tough shrub rose plant having good hardiness is provided.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry. Itcan be grown to advantage anywhere in the landscape where attractiveornamentation is desired. The distinctive blossoms are displayedthroughout the summer on a continuous basis. The plant can be grown as aspecimen, border planting, or as a mass ground cover.

The new variety can be readily distinguished from its parentalvarieties. More specifically, the ‘Earth Song’ variety is a Grandiflorarose that forms Tyrian red blossoms having considerably more petals, andthe ‘Meipoque’ variety forms clear pink blossoms with a white centerhaving only five petals.

The new variety also can be readily distinguished from the ‘Nearly Wild’variety (non-patented in the United States) and the ‘Meipitac’ variety(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,783). More specifically, the ‘Nearly Wild’ plantcommonly assumes a lesser height of approximately 80 cm, and formssingle blossoms having only five petals that are medium rose pink on theobverse and light pink on the reverse. The ‘Meipitac’ plant commonly istaller and assumes a height of approximately 1 m, and forms smallerdouble blossoms having approximately 24 petals that are medium pinkblended with light pink on the obverse and light pink on the reverse.

The new variety has been found to undergo asexual propagation by buddingon an understock beginning in August 1994 and by the rooting ofcuttings. ‘Dr. Huey’ rootstock was used during the budding. Such asexualpropagation by these techniques at Yamhill, Oreg., St. Paul, Minn., andat Phoenix, Ariz. has shown that the characteristics of the new varietyare stable and are strictly transmissible by such asexual propagationfrom one generation to another. The new variety grows well on its ownroots.

Initially the new plant was designated 99R513. The new varietysubsequently has been named the ‘BAIface’ variety, and currently isbeing marketed while using the GARDEN JUBILEE and FUNNY FACE trademarks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this character,typical specimens of the new variety. The rose plants of the new varietyhad been propagated by the rooting of cuttings, were approximately twoand three years of age, and were being grown outdoors at St. Paul, Minn.during the 2002.

FIG. 1 illustrates typical blossom clusters and foliage of the newvariety. The blossoms are shown in various stages of maturity with themore mature and lighter-colored blossoms being displayed towards thetop.

FIG. 2 illustrates a closer view of typical fully open blossoms of thenew variety.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart). Common color terms are tobe accorded their ordinary dictionary significance. The description isbased on the observation of two and three year-old plants while grownoutdoors on their own roots during June and July 2002 at St. Paul,Minn., and May 2003 at Phoenix, Ariz.

-   Botanical classification: Rosa hybrida, var. ‘BAIface’.-   Class: Landscape Shrub.-   Plant:    -   -   Height.—Approximately 90 cm on average at the end of the            growing season.        -   Width.—Approximately 90 cm on average at the end of the            growing season.        -   Habit.—Compact, upright, bushy, and rounded.-   Branches:    -   -   Color.—Young stems: Yellow-Green Group 144B. Adult wood:            Yellow-Green Group 146B and 146C.        -   Thorns.—Size: commonly approximately 1 to 1.25 cm in length            on average with some small bristles/prickles near the            peduncle. Color: Yellow-Green Group 144B with highlights of            Greyed-Purple Group 185B.-   Leaves:    -   -   Stipules.—Generally parallel with the auricle facing            outward.        -   Petioles.—Upper surface: Yellow-Green Group 146C. Under            surface: Yellow-Green Group 146C suffused with Greyed-Purple            Group 184B.        -   Leaflets.—Number: 3, 5 (most often), and 7. Shape: ovate            with a rounded base and an acuminate tip. Margin: serrulate.            Texture: bears a satin finish and is physically firm.            General appearance: medium green with a satin surface when            mature. Color (young foliage): Upper surface: between            Yellow-Green Group 146A and 146B with highlights of            Red-Purple Group 59A near the margin. Under surface:            Greyed-Purple Group 187B with highlights of Yellow-Green            Group 146B near and including the main vein. Color (adult            foliage): Upper surface: Green Group 138A. Under surface:            Green Group 137C.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Number of flowers.—Commonly approximately 3 blooms on            average per cluster on a lateral stem.        -   Peduncle.—Yellow-Green Group 146A with highlights of            Greyed-Purple Group 184B in coloration, and the length is            approximately 1.0 cm on average.        -   Sepals.—Upper surface: Green Group 143C with streaks of            Green Group 143A. Under surface: Green Group 143B with            streaks of Green Group 143A and some pubescence. Size:            approximately 1.75 cm in length on average.        -   Buds.—Shape: generally oval to somewhat rectangular. Size:            medium. Length: approximately 1.75 cm on average. Diameter:            approximately 1.0 cm on average. Color: Upper petal surface:            between Red-Purple Group 57A and 57B with a basal petal spot            of Yellow Group 5A. Under petal surface: Red Group 53C            lightening to Red Group 54C and 54D with a basal petal spot            of Yellow Group 4A and a streak of Yellow Group 4C at the            center.        -   Flower.—Shape: semi-double. Diameter: approximately 8.75 cm            on average. Color (when opening begins): Upper surface:            Red-Purple Group 57A blended with Red-Purple Group 57B and            57C. Under surface: between Red-Purple Group 66B and            Red-Purple Group 68D. Color (when blooming): Upper surface:            between Red-Purple Group 66B and 66C blended with some Red            Group 49C and near White Group 155D, as well as some Yellow            Group 2C at the petal base and apex. Under surface: between            Red Group 55B and 55C with highlights of Red-Purple Group            67A and Yellow Group 1D at the base. Color (at end of            blooming): Upper surface: between Red-Purple Group 66B and            66C with fading to Red-Purple Group 68D, with Yellow Group            4D at the base, and White Group 155D at the apex. Under            surface: Red Group 67A with highlights of Red-Purple Group            65C and 65D, and near Yellow Group 1D at the base. Color            (basal petal spot): near Yellow Group 1D. Fragrance: slight            spice. Lasting quality: the blossoms commonly last            approximately 5 to 8 days on average depending upon the            temperature and sunlight exposure. Petal number:            approximately 11 under normal growing conditions. Petal            shape: wedge-shaped with a curled apex and a ruffled edge.            Petal drop: commonly the petals detach cleanly at full            blossom maturity. Anthers: Yellow-Orange Group 17A. Filament            number: commonly approximately 68 on average. Anther color:            Yellow Group 13B. Filament color: Yellow Group 9B with            highlights of Red Group 47B and 47C. Pistils: approximately            32 on average. Stigmas: Yellow-Green Group 12B in            coloration. Styles: Yellow-Green Group 150B and Yellow-Green            Group 154 in coloration. Receptacle: separate and free with            achenes on the bottom and wall. Hip shape: ovoid. Hip            length: approximately 2.0 cm. Hip width: approximately            1.75 cm. Seeds: dark brown in coloration, and approximately            4.5 mm in length.-   Development:    -   -   Vegetation.—Vigorous, and strong.        -   Blooming.—In abundance in June and continuously for the            remainder of the season.        -   Resistance to diseases.—Excellent tolerance to Black Spot,            and Powdery Mildew.        -   Hardiness zone.—U.S.D.A. Hardiness Zone Nos. 4 to 9.

1. A new and distinct variety of landscape shrub rose plantcharacterized by the following combination of characteristics: (a)exhibits a compact, upright and bushy growth habit, (b) formscontinuously in clusters attractive semi-double rich medium pinkblossoms blended with rosy pink and white, (c) forms satiny medium greenadult foliage, (d) displays excellent tolerance to Black Spot andPowdery Mildew; and (e) is particularly well suited for growing asattractive ornamentation in parks and gardens; substantially as hereinshown and described.